Dwight Howard of the Los Angeles Lakers and former Lakers head coach Phil Jackson have been texting about Howard's injury. / Kevork Djansezian Getty Images

by Sam Amick, USA TODAY Sports

by Sam Amick, USA TODAY Sports

From the things-that-make-you-go-hmmm department: Dwight Howard and Phil Jackson are texting buddies, according to the Los Angeles Lakers center.

Howard, who is still not himself physically after having back surgery in April, told reporters after the Lakers' loss at Oklahoma City on Tuesday night that the former Lakers coach has been sending his support via text message. It could be nothing more than a genuine sign of sympathy from a fellow big man who has spent more than his share of time suffering through physical ailments, but the fact that Howard shared it publicly is enough to make you wonder what it means.

Bear in mind, Howard is known to have been in favor of a Jackson reunion in Los Angeles before the team made the surprising decision to go with Mike D'Antoni in the 11th hour on Nov. 12. If anyone knew how to incorporate Howard with Kobe Bryant in the most harmonious way possible like he always tried to so many years ago with Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal, it was Jackson.

What's more, the coach who was chosen over Jackson has struggled in that realm largely because Bryant and his five championship trophies carry so much influence in Laker Land that getting him to change, to realize the importance of consistently sharing the offensive wealth, is the tallest of tasks. The loss against the Thunder was the latest example, as Bryant battled through his right elbow stinger to take a team-high 19 shots (for 30 points) while Howard took just seven shots and had just one touch of any significance in the entire second half (he was fouled by Reggie Jackson and made one of two free throws). The Lakers fell to 30-31 and are now 2 1/2 games out of playoff position in the Western Conference with 21 games to go.

This may or may not be relevant context to the revelation that Howard and Jackson are texting pals. But as TNT analyst and former point guard/Phoenix Suns executive Steve Kerr said in our recent chat about this always-interesting team, it's always an interpretative dance when it comes to this discussion.

"I don't think (the Lakers season) has really been overly dramatized by the media," Kerr said last week. "I think there's been genuine intrigue and storylines, with the coaching changes and Dwight and Kobe often speaking through the media in sort of coded phrases. It's been really strange just to watch the whole thing unfold."